The east of the Province of Liège is both highly suited to green energy generation and very active in that field. However, the grid is saturated and cannot accommodate any additional generation.

Many projects have either not gotten off the ground or have not achieved their full potential because the energy could not be delivered to the final consumer.

- 157 MW in generation capacity is currently connected to the grid, while 182 MW is awaiting construction or connection

By upgrading the connection from a 1 x 70 kV line to a 2 x 110 kV line, the Boucle de l’Est project sets out to accommodate renewable energy generated in the region and ensure a successful energy transition.

Challenge no. 2: Guaranteeing grid reliability

The safety of people and infrastructure and the reliability of the grid are Elia’s top priorities. Elia’s safety policy consists of providing infrastructure that is ever safer for the public and ever more reliable in terms of supply, while also respecting the environment.

With this objective in mind, checks are regularly conducted, both by Elia and by external organisations, to assess the exact condition of the facilities. The results of these checks are then used to determine whether repairs are required or, as in the case of the Boucle de l’Est, plans should be made to replace certain parts of the line that are reaching (Phase 2) or have reached (Phase 1) the end of their service lives.

This is why Elia has decided to replace the entire existing line with new-generation infrastructure that guarantees the safety and reliability of the grid while boosting the supply capacity.

Environment

Elia is deeply committed to respecting the environment and protecting it sustainably. With that in mind, it implements innovative solutions geared towards minimising the impact of its activities. Specific actions have been undertaken for each phase of the project.

Consequently, once restructuring work on the province’s grid is complete, the Boucle de l’Est project will have enabled the removal of 171 pylons from the line linking Bévercé, Soiron and Romsée, which is 34.4 km long and was erected in 1930.

The best technology

Elia has made this project a focus of research and development, teaming up with Ronveaux to develop high-performance concrete pylons as an alternative to the steel-lattice pylons currently used. The Boucle de l’Est project is the first to use this type of pylon in Belgium. The main advantage offered by these high-performance concrete pylons is that they take up less space. Three composite pylons have also been erected in Bütgenbach. By installing these new-generation pylons, Elia is underlining its commitment to technological excellence.

Boucle de l’Est – Phase 1

As the old 1 x 70 kV overhead line was built in 1966 and no longer satisfies the region’s needs, Elia decided to invest €30 million in replacing and upgrading the connection, which links the Bévercé, Amel and Bütgenbach substations (via the Stephanshof interconnection point) located in the municipalities of Malmedy, Bütgenbach, Waimes and Amel.

Phase 1 in figures

Length of the line: 21 km

Four municipalities affected: Waimes, Amel, Malmedy and Bütgenbach

Number of pylons: 93

Average pylon height: 35 m

Overhead line switched from one circuit to two

Voltage increased from 70 to 110 kV

Areas crossed: 5% residential

Elia has erected 82 pylons made of high-performance concrete and 8 corner and end lattice-framework pylons, as well as installing Belgium’s first 3 composite pylons at Bütgenbach.

The route

The new line follows the same route as the old one.

Map of the route by municipality:

Municipality

Length of line (km)

Number of pylons before

Number of pylons after

Waimes

8.89

39

36

Amblève

4.83

21

20

Malmedy

4.02

20

20

Bütgenbach

2.97

14

17

Schedule

Work began on 1 June 2015 and lasted two and a half years. The new 2 x 110 kV line was commissioned in December 2016.

Boucle de l’Est – Phase 2

The second phase of the vast Boucle de l’Est project entails replacing and upgrading the 2 x 110 kV overhead line connecting the Bévercé (Malmedy), Bronrome, Trois-Ponts (Coo) and Brume sites in the municipalities of Malmedy, Stoumont, Stavelot, Spa and Trois-Ponts.

Current Situation

The current Bévercé – Bronrome line was built in 1930 and is nearing the end of its service life.

The line between Bronrome and Trois-Ponts was erected in 1967 and is in good condition. However, since it is a 70 kV line, the second circuit sorely needed by the grid cannot be installed on it.

Between Trois-Ponts and Brume, Elia is using the existing pylons, which are fitted with two 220 kV circuits (one of which is currently running at 70 kV, while the other is out of service).

Phase 2 of the Boucle de l’Est project will entail replacing and upgrading the overhead line on the site of the current connection. There are no plans to change the route at present.

Map of the route by municipality

Municipality

Length of the line (km)

Number of pylons

Malmedy

1.8

10

Spa

0.7

2

Stoumont

12.7

56

Stavelot

7.7

35

Trois-Ponts

2.2

8

Environment

Elia has taken a number of environmental measures as part of Phase 2 of the Boucle de l’Est project:

Studies

While Phase 2 of the Boucle de l’Est project does not meet the criteria for a mandatory Environmental Impact Study, Elia decided to have an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (“NEIE” in French) and an Appropriate Impact Assessment (“EAI” in French) prepared by a firm approved by the Walloon Region in order to gauge the project’s effects on the environment.

In addition to these two studies, Elia commissioned two supplementary analyses aimed at limiting the environmental impact of:

site traffic – study conducted by Van Egdom, a company specialising in the transportation of abnormal loads. Van Egdom was tasked with determining the best possible route for transporting the pylons, bearing in mind the technical constraints linked to the size of the convoy and the roads to be used;

access roads – study conducted by Bodarwé, a company specialising in road works, analysing how best to create access roads in the wettest parts of the Fagne fenland to limit damage to the ecosystem.

Fostering biodiversity

Elia’s concern for the environment led it to adopt the Life philosophy and fund projects to restore and enhance the natural areas along the route.

Following the associated feasibility study conducted by the non-profit Solon, an eco-corridor could be developed on an 8-km stretch between Francorchamps and Bronrome, located between pylons P41 and P82.

As part of this project, Elia will concentrate on creating wooded verges, moors, peat bogs and ponds in the areas under study with a view to augmenting their natural value.

Elia plans to undertake this work in partnership with local companies.

Bird flight diverters

Since the area concerned is of high ornithological value, Elia commissioned Natagora to conduct an expert study. Based on the study’s findings, Elia intends to fit bird flight diverters on three sections of the line:

One section between Bronrome and Trois-Ponts: approx. 2 km

Two sections between Bévercé and Bronrome: approx. 7.8 km

All in all, around 9.8 km of the line will be kitted out with bird flight diverters.

Hunting and nesting seasons

Elia maintains regular contact with landowners in this regard to take into account the hunting seasons.

Elia also undertakes to avoid disrupting nesting periods: when nesting season is under way, Elia avoids engaging in major work that could disturb nesting birds.

Elia has performed the lopping and clearance work taking into account the nesting period of the region’s birds.

News

03 June 2020

Be Planet Foundation launches call for projects in Step 2 towns

Elia is aware that the presence of infrastructure can have an impact on the local environment in the towns where it is located, which is why, as a socially responsible company, we aim to minimise that impact.

Start of work on phase 2

Preparations for work on the second part of the Boucle de l’Est (East Loop) project have begun. Once lopping and clearance has been completed and the access roads to the pylons have been built, several stages planned to meet various technical and environmental constraints will be undertaken.

Four sustainable citizen projects in Eastern Liege supported by Elia and Be Planet

For over a year now, Elia has been working with the Be Planet Foundation to develop and support ecological transition initiatives by citizens in municipalities where Elia infrastructure projects are under way.

Glossary

Work

Get full details of how the work is being organised and find out about the measures Elia is taking to limit the impact on mobility, preserve the environment and minimise disruption for local residents.

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